Chapter Text
Bakugou Katsuki has a boyfriend. And Izuku didn’t know.
How did he not know? They were Hero Partners for God’s sake! The Wonder Duo!
But just because they worked seamlessly together in their professional lives, does not mean their private lives went off without more than a few snags along the way.
Yes, Bakugou had apologised and tried his damndest to call Izuku by his actual name. Yes, they’d fought a whole war together and come out with a greater understanding of how important they were to one another. And yes, they’d become a Hero Duo because their shared history and knowledge of each other’s skill sets and vulnerabilities made them the ultimate team.
But none of that pulled them closer in their personal lives. Bakugou kept Izuku at arm's length. He turned up late for their graduating class’ get-togethers and left early. He only did the necessary PR events, and always told Izuku that ‘work should stay at work’ when he’d try and invite the blond around to finish up paperwork at home as an excuse to hang out.
By all standards Izuku and Bakugou had become work colleagues. And it sucked.
Nearly all of the former class 3A members were currently sitting in their usual izakaya chatting in groups along a bunch of tables they’d pushed together.
Izuku was listening to Tsu tell him about her last mission in open water with Selkie, when Kirishima stood from his spot at the table a few seats down, beer sloshing in his hand.
“Bro!” He exclaimed, loud enough for everyones’ heads to snap toward the door, “You came!”
Standing just inside the doorway, bundled in his winter coat, scarf and hat, was Bakugou in all his glory.
The cold wind had nipped his cheeks pink in the most adorable way, and Izuku couldn’t help but smile as he watched Bakugou’s hair bounce back into shape the second his hat was removed.
“Fuck off, Shitty Hair." Bakugou stomped over and forced himself between Kaminari and Todoroki across the table from Izuku.
A beer seemingly from nowhere was placed in Bakugou’s hand and he started listening to the conversation Kaminari and Sero were having with little fanfare.
The night went on as usual, swapping stories, and jokes, often at Mineta and Kaminari’s expense, with the beer and saki flowing freely. At some point there were shots, but Izuku didn’t partake - He had patrol in the morning and he couldn’t find it in himself to nurse a headache.
As the hours wore on Izuku realised Bakugou was still there, drinking another beer and laughing at something Uraraka was telling Todoroki.
Near midnight Izuku figured it was time he headed home. A brisk twenty minute walk in the snow, a shower, and he might make it to bed by one. He sighed, standing and saying his goodbyes as he donned his winter layers.
Just as he was wrapping his scarf around his neck - a multicolored knitted number that Kacchan had told him was an ‘offense to fashion’ that his mother had made for him, bless her heart - Bakugou stood abruptly from the table, swaying slightly.
He’d seemingly made a decision, “I’ll walk with ‘ya nerd”.
Izuku found it a little odd, sure, but this was fine. Nothing they’d not done in the years prior on rare occasion. Maybe Bakugou just needed to blow off some steam and he’d reached his limit.
Once they stepped onto the empty street, glowing orange in the street lights, the cool air seemed to snap them both to attention and they hurried down the sidewalk in silence.
When they reached their point of separation, Bakugou turned back to Izuku, staring down their few inches in height difference and puffed air out in a cloud into the night.
“I uh, I wanna tell you somethin’. It’s not a big deal or anythin'. I’ll just feel better to get it off my chest ya’ know? So it’s done?”
Bakugou Katsuki looked sheepish, something Izuku had never seen before in his lifetime. And Izuku didn’t like it. Not one bit.
He stepped closer, “Sure Kacchan, you can tell me anything, you know that!”
He spread his best reassuring smile over his features and waited.
Bakugou watched his face for several long moments, seemingly mapping all of the other's features with his eyes, and Izuku shifted uncomfortably under his intense scrutiny. Then, Bakugou breathed in deeply before meeting Izuku’s gaze head on.
“I met someone.”
And oh did that make Izuku’s heartache in a way he’d never experienced before. But Kacchan wasn’t his! Sure, he is a huge influence on who Izuku fundamentally is as a person; and sure, they trusted each other with their lives; and sure, he felt a deeper connection with Kacchan than he ever had with anyone else… but he wasn't his. So he schooled his face into what he deemed the appropriate level of happiness for a ‘work colleague’ in a new relationship.
“That’s great Kacchan!” Izuku beamed, “You’ll have to bring her next time-”
“Him.”
Katsuki’s heated stare could ignite a dying star.
“Oh-” Izuku faltered, not because he was bothered that Kacchan liked men, but because he wished his pining teenage self had known that. That one small detail that could have changed the course of his whole adult life. Could have changed Kacchan from 'work colleague' to 'significant other'. It seems he was a little late for that now.
“Of course, you’ll have to bring him then!” He quickly recovered.
Bakugou’s eyebrows rose, as if he was expecting some other reaction from his oldest friend - no, from his ‘work partner’.
“Maybe I will.” He scoffed looking off down the empty street, “Just, kinda risky to be out ya’ know. So just keep this shit to yourself Deku.”
“Absolutely! I promise I would never discuss Kacchan’s private life with anyone.” Izuku said, hands flying up to appease the blond. “Thank you for trusting me with this Kacchan, it means a lot to me.”
As soon as the words fell from Izuku’s mouth, he regretted it. Bakugou’s eyes narrowed, and he scowled down at Izuku.
“Look shithead, I’m only telling you because I don’t lie. Never have, never will. And sometimes I’m gonna be busy now, and that’ll be why.”
Izuku nodded along, too worried to interrupt.
“Kirishima knows too. He actually introduced us.” Katsuki rubbed his face, as if suddenly exhausted, “I had a crush on you since third year, and I needed to get over your straight ass, so I’m doing that. I’ve moved on.”
Wait.
What?
This couldn't be happening!
Izuku must have been silent for too long, because Bakugou flicked his head harshly.
“Don’t fucking freak out.” He hissed, “I just said I’m over you.”
Izuku needed a moment that Kacchan was just not going to let him have. Kacchan had a crush on Izuku! And Izuku, who knew homophobia was still rife in Japan, had hid his bisexuality, his massive crush on his hero partner, and his growing collection of gay porn, all in aid of reaching his goal of being the number one hero! All for what? So that Kacchan could turn around and be into him ! And moving on! Moving on from Izuku!
What fresh hell is this!
And in that moment Izuku realised two things.
One - He still had a massive crush and a deeply complicated relationship with Kacchan that could be the grounds for an amazing but itense relationship if he spoke up now. A relationship that Kacchan still may want to be part of, that he still might harbor feelings for.
Two - There was no way Izuku could tell him how he felt. Kacchan also wanted to be number one. Two popular male heroes being together? Unheard of. If couples like that exist within Japan’s hero elite, Izuku doesn’t know of them, so they can’t be out because as is well known, Izuku is a massive hero nerd. He would know.
Kacchan has found himself someone he could be with, outside of the limelight without fear of a media circus, and he’s trying to move on from something he didn’t even know was a possibility.
If anything, it would hurt Kacchan more to know there had been a chance. Because it was hurting Izuku alright, and it was not being dramatic to say it was worse than any wound he’d ever received in battle.
So Izuku gathered all of those sharp broken pieces of himself that Katsuki's revelation had just shattered on the sidewalk, and he ate all of them up with a painful wince, along with his wishes and could-have-beens, and chewed them up into dust on his tongue and forced them down.
“Sorry Kacchan,” He squeaked out, “I’m just extremely flattered anyone as amazing as Kacchan would even like someone like me! I’m honored.”
“Liked.” Bakugou stressed, “I’ve moved on.” That was hurtful, but necessary, Izuku understood.
Bakugou swayed a little before checking the time on his phone.
“I’m going. M’off tomorrow, so I’ll see you Sunday.”
And with that he turned and walked away, without even waiting for Izuku’s reply.
Izuku just stayed there, on the frosted street in the orange light, staring at his retreating form.
What the ever-living-fuck just happened?
Izuku had Tuesday off, and as it happened, so did Todoroki, his long suffering friend who more often than not acted as the greenette's sounding board.
They met at an artisanal coffee shop that Izuku only ever went to with Todoroki, because while their drinks were to die for, the prices gave Izuku a mild heart attack. So, as had become routine, Todoroki ordered and paid for them both, before they retreated to a corner booth with their drinks in hand.
They talked for a while about work, family, Todoroki's new found love of glass blowing, until the bi-coloured man set his cup down with a faint 'clink' against the saucer and stared Izuku down.
"We've made small talk long enough. If you don't tell me what's bothering you, I'm going to freeze your hands to the table." Todoroki said, gesturing to Izuku's fingers where they were picking the already bloody nail beds on his left hand.
Izuku quickly pulled his hands below the table, and rested his forehead against it with a groan.
"Is it really that bad?"
Izuku nodded against the wooden table top. He could smell the earthuness of the oak and the lemon disinfectant on its surface as he titled his head to watch his friend's pristine white eyebrow raise in question.
"If you don't tell me, that's fine by me, but by the next brunch you'll have no nails left at all…" He frowned, "Actually, you might gnaw off the ends of your fingers at this rate. And I'd really rather you didn't."
Izuku groaned as he sat upright, hands coming up to hold his second mug of salted caramel hot chocolate, and enjoying the warm sting that seeped through his fingers.
"If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone."
Todoroki made a show of looking around at the other patrons.
"I'm serious!" Izuku pleaded, "It's a secret that's been trusted to me, but I really need to speak to someone about this."
Todoroki's face grew serious as his eyes took in Izuku’s expression, and he nodded.
Izuku knew he could trust Shoto with anything. Shoto wasn't just a 'work colleague'. He was legitimately his best friend.
"Kacchan has a boyfriend."
"I know." Todoroki nodded, sipping the dregs of his green tea, and moving to pour another from the pot on the table.
Izuku balked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You know?" He all but shrieked, lowering his voice to near a whisper, "What? How?"
Kacchan said only Izuku and Kirishima knew, why would he lie about that?
"What do I know?” Todoroki hummed thoughtfully, stirring his team before setting down his spoon. "Well, I know Bakugou is dating a man named Ito Hirohito. He’s an award winning photographer that Kirishima introduced him to after he did some press shoots for a sports company Ito-san has shot several spreads for."
Izuku's mouth was hanging open at the sheer amount of knowledge Todoroki had. He had never loved this man more.
"How do I know? I happened to run into them when I was leaving a restaurant downtown after having a meal with my family; a meal which Natsuo tells me was extremely uncomfortable, but I would say was as comfortable as any meal with my family could be." He shrugged.
Izuku blinked, "Wait, what? You've met Kacchan’s boyfriend? Just by chance? Then how do you know so much about him?"
Todoroki looked unbothered, "Ito-san, sorry Hiro - he insisted twice that I call him that - is very talkative. He told me how he and Bakugou met. Then he gave me his business card, and said if I ever needed a photographer he'd be happy to show me his portfolio."
Todoroki shuffled through his pocket, then into his wallet and handed Izuku a sleek black business card with Ito's name and studio address.
Izuku glowered at it.
His friend frowned again, and Izuku would never get used to the way expressions sat on his friend's once blank face. He’d really blossomed emotionally since they first met.
"You're staring at the card strangely. You still have more to say. I'm here to listen."
At the slight look of concern flitting across Todoroki's mismatched eyes, Izuku opened up and told him everything.
"I won't pretend I'm the best at reading social situations and making decisions based on peoples' interactions, but I've been watching a lot of K-Drama in the evenings, and I really think you should have just told him."
"Are you mad!" Izuku said, pinching his brow, "Look, he says he's over me, that he's moved on. If I tell him, I'm hurting him just as much as I'm hurting because he might wonder about 'what ifs' like I am. And I don't want to sound big headed, I'm sure Ito-san is much better for Kacchan than me, but what if I hinder his new relationship by making him question if his past feelings are now a possibility? And worse, much worse for me, is if I tell him and he is over me so much so that it doesn't hinder his new relationship at all, and then I'm just hurting myself by knowing that telling him made no difference at all."
Izuku finished his ramble with a heavy inhale as Todoroki nodded along, his bangs moving out of place as he did so, red and white intermixing.
"I understand. Neither option is pleasant." He leveled Izuku with his signature blank stare, "But, if you tell him there is at least a chance it could be reciprocated."
Izuku sighs, exasperated. "Shoto, were you not listening to me? As unlikely as that is to happen, if it did, then I'd be a homewrecker! I'd never forgive myself."
"I don't think letting Bakugou know you're an option is being a homewrecker." Todoroki said, shaking his head, "He's a grown man who is more than capable of making a decision in regards to a confession from you."
"What if he hates me? I can't go back to how we used to be. Not just because of our careers. I feel like we're finally friends again, even if it is all ‘work work work’." He stirs the last dollop of cream into his drink and licks the spoon clean. "He'll think I've been lying to him all this time about my sexuallity-"
"If that were true, then he’d be guilty of lying too."
"No Shoto, that's not what I-"
"Yes it is." His friend cuts him off again, "You feel you lied by omission, but if that were true - which it isn't - then Bakugou would be in the same boat."
Izuku couldn't really argue with that logic.
"You both had your own reasons for keeping your sexuality to yourselves, so he should understand it more than anyone."
Several moments of silence passed as Izuku watched the rain outside bounce up of off the sidewalk.
"I don't want to hurt our friendship, or his relationship. I had a chance to tell him that night, and I didn't."
Todoroki gave him a small sympathetic smile and reached over to squeeze his hands gently.
"It's your choice," he said kindly, "but for the record, if he ever does outright ask you, you should tell him."
Izuku laughs lightly, sniffling as his emotions threaten to spill over.
"That will never happen. So, sure, why not. If he ever asks, then I'll tell him."
Things seemed to carry on as normal after that. Izuku went to work, he bantered, sparred and fought with Bakugou, and not once did the blond mention his new boyfriend. But Izuku had started to notice little things at first, and then more obvious changes in his hero partner’s behavior. The little things tend to be easy to notice when you’ve spent your whole lives anaylsing one another.
First it was Bakugou being on his phone more on their downtime, or checking it while on their lunch breaks with a small smile curving the very corner of his lips. Then, he was making an effort to get back from patrols on time, asking Izuku to handle the press and flying away from the aftermath of a fight that had gone long over his scheduled shift. Then he wasn’t asking for overtime, or offering to cover as many shifts. And then, one day the most absurd thing happened. Bakugou Katsuki asked Izuku for advice.
Izuku just sat there blinking blindly as the first rays of late winter sun peeked over the cityscape.
They were sitting on the roof of an apartment block on the edge of their patrol zone, eating ramen from the hole-in-the-wall place that stayed open twenty-four-seven, and had the spiciest broth this side of tokyo.
“For fuck’s sake, Deku!” Bakugou yelled, catching Izuku’s ramen bowl and forcefully straightening it before it could spill onto his lap.
“Oh! Sorry Kacchan!” Izuku hurried to recover, “I, um, I’m just thinking that's all.”
“Well don’t use all your brain cells, idiot, leave at least one to keep your ramen upright.”
He went back to slurping his own ramen, the end of the noodle flicking up and leaving a trail of broth down the pale skin of his chin.
He wiped it roughly with the back of his gloved hand and stared Izuku down.
“So? Any ideas? I don’t wanna ask hair-for-brains. He’s already too fucking invested.” He huffed.
“Well, I’m not sure I’m the best to ask for date ideas, Kacchan.” Izuku says with a small smile he hopes comes off as more bashful than sad, which he actually is. Because he has zero experience from which to draw on. Oh, and he doesn’t particularly want to involve himself in their relationship, for which he has to at least weekly purge himself of his jealous feelings by having an angry fit and a cry in the comfort of his own apartment.
Izuku looks up to see Bakugou watching him carefully, then he shakes his head and scoffs.
“Fuck off with that shit, Deku.” He says, stabbing his chopsticks at him. “As if you’ve not been dating. There was Cheeks, that Shield chick - fuck, even whats-her-name, the tech girl-”
Izuku balks at him, but answers automatically, “Hatsume?”
“Yeah, her.” Bakugou nods, sipping his broth, “They all wanted you. Cheeks definitely wanted you. And they’re just the ones I know of. Doesn’t even count all those swooning civilians. You’re tellin’ me you haven’t had one fucking date?” His eyebrow raised in a harsh arch.
Izuku fumbled, “Well, Uraraka-kun and I had a couple of dates after school ended, but I couldn’t-”
Well, Izuku guessed he would just have to talk around the issue. He and Uraraka never worked out because he was harboring a big fat man-crush for the man sitting before him, and she’d been too good of a friend to push him for more. After that he had never seen much point in dating when he saw the perfect man everyday. He had eventually explored the physical aspects of his sexuality with a couple of sidekicks he’d met through work. Though even those hook-ups, while enlightening and fun, were extremely rare.
“-It’s not important!” He said quickly, waving his hands, “It just didn’t work out, ok? And I don’t really see the point in dating someone I’m not interested in.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Bakugou’s face was pinched now, anger of confusion, Izuku was having trouble telling which emotion was stronger. “You haven’t been on any other dates? So, you’re a picky fucker?”
Izuku’s mouth dropped open, “What! No- I’m just- I- Look, I have my reasons.” He said, shoving his now cool noodles into his mouth and glaring at his partner with full round cheeks.
Bakugou smirked a little at his display of annoyance before setting down his bowl and looking down to grab his gauntlets. He seemed deep in thought as he secured them in place, before finally turning to Izuku once more.
“I know you’re not vain Izuku, so I doubt you’re actually a picky fuck,” He stands stretching his back out, “So, that only leads me to one other conclusion. You’ve got your sights on someone.”
Izuku swallowed his current mouthful far too soon, but refused to react, feeling the piece of pork he’d been working on lodge in his throat. He swallowed again, hard, to clear the blockage with a wince.
“Word of advice Deku,” Bakugou says as he captures Izuku’s gaze, “Don’t wait for them. Either tell them or move on. Otherwise you’re jus’ wasting you’re fucking time.”
He looks back out to the city, and Izuku drops his eyes to his half-finished meal. Because is that the conclusion Bakugou came to from liking Izuku? From holding out and guarding his feelings for him? God, if only he knew Izuku had been doing the same, feeling the same.
A soft wind blew through Izuku’s curls, drawing his eyes back to the sunrise, full of color and life. Izuku had missed his chance. Bakugou was right, as is the case with most things. He should really work harder on moving on.
“Eat your fucking food, shit-nerd.” Bakugou said softly, before he turned his back once more.
It’s early spring when Izuku is making his way home from the grocery store, mask on, cap hiding his green curls - the Wonder Duo aren’t that high in the ranks yet, but fighting a large scale war tends to get you recognised. It’s been five years since they graduated and Izuku is still recognised at least once a day while running mundane errands.
He scrolls through his shopping list, checking once more that he’d bought everything he needed, when he gets an Instagram notification that Bakugou has posted something new. He frowns slightly. It’s odd. Bakugou only posts when the PR team say he is contractually obliged to, or when he passes Todoroki or Izuku in the peoples’ popularity polls, and even then that’s just to brag and hurl insults.
Izuku’s finger is hitting the notification before he can even think, and he stops suddenly on the sidewalk as he’s met with a close-up portrait of Bakugou’s profile.
It’s in soft black and white tones, with Bakugou centered on an unfocused grey background, light seemingly spilling from somewhere above him on the left and highlighting all the perfectly structured planes of his face. The image captures him from the tips of his spikey hair, to the very top of his shoulder, and he’s turned away from the camara, looking back over his shoulder towards to viewer, chin tilted up, eyes defiant, lips the perfect formation of the start of his ‘what the fuck are you looking at?’ signature sneer.
It’s strong but beautiful, harsh but soft, focused but care-free. It’s Bakugou, Kacchan, at his finest, and Izuku forgets how long he’s been standing on the sidewalk as he stares at the image. When he finally feels the image is etched into his retinas, he reads the caption.
‘HeroGEMGDofficial Photo by award winning photographer @ItoHirohitoPhotography. More collaborations to come as part of Ito-san’s forthcoming project. #GEMGD #Dynamight #WonderDuo #portrait #photography #HeroesofJapan’
Huh, Bakugou has never shown any interest in modeling before. Sure, he has the looks for it, but Izuku knows that Bakugou hates having to do any part of the job that is not active hero work. He avoids it like the plague, until their PR team threatens him with a suspension for breach of contact. And even then, both Best Jeanist and Izuku have to talk him down from exploding their heads’ off.
Izuku shakes his head, laughing a slightly pained laugh, because if Bakugou was doing this for Ito-san, if he’d agreed to be photographed, then he really did like this guy. Izuku didn’t have a damn chance anymore, and it was nice, if painful, to have that confirmed.
He rushed the rest of the way home, busying himself with putting his groceries away, and batch cooking meals for his week ahead. And if at some point before he slipped into bed that night he saved Kacchan’s portrait to his phone, no one had to know.
Ito-san really was a good photographer. Although, in Izuku’s opinion he did have the perfect subject.